Penetrator and use of a penetrator

ABSTRACT

A penetrator for a projectile, in particular a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator, comprising a tail unit and a main core having a front part and a rear part, the tail unit being arranged on the rear part of the main core. A predetermined breaking point is formed between the front part and the rear part of the main core, and the material of the predetermined breaking point is designed to be mechanically less resilient that the rest of the main core.

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/050778, which was filed on Jan. 15, 2021, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2020 104 217.5, which was filed in Germany on Feb. 18, 2020, and which are both herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a penetrator for a projectile, in particular a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator, also referred to as a long-rod penetrator or KE penetrator, comprising a tail unit and a main core. The main core comprises at least one front part and at least one rear part. The tail unit is arranged on the rear part of the penetrator. The invention further relates to a projectile including the penetrator and a sabot, as well as a cartridge munition comprising a projectile of this type. The invention also relates to the use of such a penetrator or projectile for engaging an armored target having armoring, in particular a tank having preferably reactive armoring.

Description of the Background Art

DE 22 34 219 C1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,181, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an armor-piercing projectile having a core of high specific weight, which is arranged in a casing of softer material. The core is essentially connected to the casing surrounding it in a form- and force-fitting manner along its entire length, by which means a bursting of the core in the target during penetration is avoided.

In practice, it has been demonstrated that, when the penetrator strikes a pre-target, for example a plate of a reactive armoring, this plate is penetrated and passed through in a first phase of the penetration. During this pass-through, however, the tail unit of the penetrator is a hindrance and generates an additional resistance. A variety of approaches address this topic.

A subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator having a great length/diameter ratio is known from DE 40 22 821 A1, which is used to penetrate targets having multiple armorings, even at great angles of inclination of the targets. The projectile is made up of a lower-mass pre-core and a rear main core as a cylindrical body. The two cores form a cohesive one-part projectile body. In their joining region, a predetermined breaking point is provided in the region of the tip, which is formed in that the front end of the main core is a forward-tapering frustrum, which has a rounded area in the transition region to the pre-core.

A subcaliber projectile is known from the document DE 40 28 409 A1, which includes a penetrator and a tail unit coaxially surrounding the penetrator in a partial region of its length. A partial region of the penetrator is designed in a conical manner on its rear side. The tail unit is connected to the penetrator in a form-fitting manner. The penetrator has a predetermined breaking point in the form of a notch, which ensures that, upon striking a target, the tail unit breaks off, and the remaining penetrator passes through with less hindrance.

A penetrator is known from DE 10 2015 117 018 A1, which corresponds to US 2018/0224251, which is incorporated herein by reference, and which has an interface in the front region, to which different penetrator tips may be attached. A basic penetrator is created via this geometric interface, which may be provided with different penetrator tips and augmented to form individual KE penetrators. This makes it possible to react to different reactive targets with the aid of different penetrator tips. The basic penetrator may also be made from a different material than the different penetrator tips.

A removable tail unit for a full-caliber projectile is known from DE 10 2019 117 496.1. The tail unit is connected to the projectile via a bayonet joint. It is proposed that the entire rear part, including the tail unit, is separated from the projectile head. When the projectile strikes the target, the tail unit wings of a folding tail unit are swung out. If the tail unit part is a rigid tail unit, the diameter thereof is larger than the projectile diameter. After or upon the penetration of the target, the solid tail unit part is axially separated from the projectile head. The rear part remains stuck in the target or follows the warhead later on. A newly created interface takes on the task of separation. The interface may be provided between the tail unit part and the projectile head and is preferably also implemented with the aid of a locking mechanism. In one simple design, the interface may be incorporated or integrated into a joining region between the tail unit and the casing of the projectile head. For this purpose, a transfer part may be provided, which is accommodated between the casing of the projectile head and a rear part of the tail unit part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Although the aforementioned approaches have already proven to be successful, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a further penetrator, which easily implements a reliable penetration of a main target having, in particular, a reactive armoring.

The idea underlying the invention is to provide a penetrator for a projectile, in particular a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator, which comprises a tail unit and a main core. The main core comprises at least one front part and at least one rear part. The tail unit is arranged on the rear part of the main core. At least one predetermined breaking point is provided between the at least one front part and the at least one rear part.

Similarly to DE 10 2019 117 496.1, which corresponds to WO2020260009, which is incorporated herein by reference, this created predetermined breaking point achieves the fact that the tail unit is separated at the predetermined breaking point, together with the rear part of the main core during the penetration of the front part of the main core by the rear part of the main core of the penetrator.

According to the invention, a projectile is further provided, which comprises a penetrator or a refined penetrator as described below, and a sabot.

According to the invention, a cartridge munition is also provided, which comprises a projectile of this type and a cartridge casing.

According to the invention, a use of a penetrator of this type or a refined penetrator as described below is also provided for engaging an armored target having an, in particular, reactive armor, in particular a tank having reactive armoring.

According to the invention, the predetermined breaking point is designed in areas in such a way that it is mechanically less resilient than the front part and the rear part of the main core. This means that the material in the region of the predetermined breaking point(s) has lower strength values or a lower modulus of elasticity than in the front part and the rear part of the main core.

It is provided that the predetermined breaking point is, on the one hand, manufactured by primary forming and/or forming. A predetermined breaking point of this type may be produced, for example, by inducing residual stresses and/or by means of inhomogeneities in the material in the region of the predetermined breaking point. On the other hand, a material for the predetermined breaking point may be provided, which has lower strength values or a lower modulus of elasticity than in the front part and/or the rear part of the main core. It is not provided to produce the predetermined breaking point(s) by purely machining the penetrator, so that a groove structure, etc. results from cutting.

Due to the at least one predetermined breaking point, it is achieved that the penetration effect by the tail unit is not reduced. When the penetrator strikes the pre-target, an easier penetration is possible, since the remaining front part of the main core, excluding the tail unit and rear part of the main core, no longer offers resistance during penetration, and consequently there is less deflection of the front part of the main core or the penetrator.

After the rear part of the main core, together with the tail unit, is broken off, the remaining part of the penetrator, i.e., the front part of the main core, is decoupled from the reactive pre-target. As a result, there is less deflection of the front part of the main core, and the final ballistic power in the subsequent main target is significantly increased. The front part of the main core of the penetrator according to the invention may consequently develop a better effect in the main target.

Due to the design of the penetrator according to the invention, it is possible to easily engage targets having an, in particular, reactive armoring.

It us furthermore advantageous that the front part of the main core may be optimally adapted to the reactive targets to be engaged for the purpose of improving the engagement therewith.

The penetrator is preferably used to engage an armored target, in particular, a tank having reactive armoring.

It may be provided that the predetermined breaking point can be configured to allow the rear part of the main core, together with the tail unit, to break off of the front part of the main core when striking a target, in particular a pre-target.

The length of the front part of the main core can be at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, further preferably at least 90% of the length of the main core—viewed from the tip.

It may further be provided that the predetermined breaking point can be manufactured by primary forming and/or by forming. A predetermined breaking point of this type may be produced, for example, by inducing residual stresses or by means of inhomogeneities in the material.

The main core can be provided with a one-piece design in such a way that the at least one front part and the at least one rear part of the main core are formed from a single piece. This has the advantage that a good ballistic effect and low tolerances are achievable. In addition, the main core therefore does not have any moving parts, such as screw connections. The penetrator according to the invention thus does not have any moving parts. The weakening of the material in the region of the predetermined breaking point may be achieved, for example, by inducing residual stresses and/or by means of inhomogeneities in the material.

It may furthermore be provided that the main core has a two-piece or two-part design. This achieves the fact that the rear region or the at least one rear part of the main core may be selected independently of the front region or the at least one front part of the main core. Combinations of different materials for the front part of the hard core and for the rear part of the hard core are thus possible. For example, a heavy material is used for the front region of the main core and a lighter-weight material for the rear region of the main core, so that a preferably high weight is maintained for effective momentum after the break-off at the predetermined breaking point. The effect at the main target is increased hereby. However, it is also possible to design the main core in two pieces made from the same materials.

In an example of a two-part version of the main core, it may also be provided that the predetermined breaking point is an integral connection made from a mechanically less resilient material than the main core. This achieves the fact that a reliable break-through of the predetermined breaking point of the main core is implemented.

The penetrator can be manufactured, in particular sintered, from a tungsten heavy metal material, and the predetermined breaking point has a lower density than the rest of the main core. This achieves the fact that a main core manufactured from one material has different material properties in regions and/or in sections, in particular in the region of the predetermined breaking point(s).

The main core as well as the predetermined breaking point may also be manufactured, in particular sintered, from other heavy metals or other suitable high-density materials.

It may furthermore be provided that the penetrator is inert. The penetrator thus does not have any explosive material, i.e., the penetrator preferably does not comprise any active media in this embodiment.

The main core preferably has a solid design. “Solid” includes the formation from a sintering material. Alternatively, the penetrator may also be provided with a hollow design. This makes it possible to integrate active media in one particular specific embodiment.

It may furthermore be provided that the predetermined breaking point may be formed by a thermal heat treatment of the main core. For example, the region of the predetermined breaking point may be deliberately weakened by heat treatment. The region of the predetermined breaking point may also be recessed, so that only the rest of the main core is designed to be more mechanically resilient with respect to its material properties due to the heat treatment.

In an example of a two-part main core, it may be further provided that the front part of the main core and the rear part of the main core each have a thread, and the front part and the rear part of the main core may be connected by a mechanically less resilient connecting element to form the predetermined breaking point.

A predetermined breaking point between a front part and a rear part may be cost-effectively created hereby. This also makes it possible for the front part of the main core and the rear part of the main core to have different material properties.

The front part of the main core and the rear part of the main core may each have an inner thread, and the connecting element has one or two outer thread(s) matched thereto.

It is equally possible that the front part of the main core and the rear part of the main core each have an outer thread, and the connecting element has one or two inter thread(s) matched thereto.

In addition, it may be provided that the predetermined breaking point has a structural weak point, in particular, a notch or a milled recess. The effect of the predetermined breaking point may be increased thereby, so that the front and rear parts of the main core may be even more easily separated from each other.

In an example of the cartridge munition, it may be provided that the predetermined breaking point is arranged within the cartridge casing. This achieves the fact that the predetermined breaking point is not exposed to external influences.

A penetrator for a projectile is proposed, in particular a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator, comprising a tail unit and a main core, which has at least one front part and at least one rear part. A tail unit is arranged on the rear part of the main core. A predetermined breaking point is formed between the front part and the rear part of the main core, and the material of the predetermined breaking point is designed to be mechanically less resilient that the rest of the main core. This achieves the fact that, after or upon the penetration of the target, the solid tail unit part, including the at least one rear part, is preferably axially separated from the at least one front part. The back part or the at least one rear part, including the tail unit, is thus firmly seated in the target thereby, or it follows the at least one front part of the main core of the penetrator.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes, combinations, and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a penetrator according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a penetrator according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a penetrator 10 according to the invention.

Penetrator 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a penetrator for a projectile 1. This projectile 1 is preferably a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator including a sabot.

Penetrator 10 includes a tail unit 3 and a main core 2. Main core 2 comprises at least one front part 21 and at least one rear part 22. Tail unit 3 is arranged on rear part 22 of main core 2.

A predetermined breaking point 7 is formed between front part 21 and rear part 22 of main core 2. Predetermined breaking point 7 is designed to be mechanically less resilient than the rest of main core 2.

Predetermined breaking point 7 is configured to allow rear part 22 of main core 10, together with tail unit 3, to break off from the at least one front part 21 of main core 2 upon striking a target, in particular a pre-target.

Length L of the at least one front part 21 of main core 2 is at least 50%, preferably 70%, preferably 80%, further preferably 90% of the length of main core 2.

Predetermined breaking point 7 may be manufactured, for example, by primary forming and/or forming manufacturing methods.

Penetrator 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a main core 2 having a one-piece design.

Predetermined breaking point 7 may be, for example, an integral connection, which is formed from a mechanically less resilient material than main core 2.

Main core 2 of penetrator 10 is preferably provided with a solid design.

Penetrator 10 is manufactured, for example, from a tungsten heavy metal material. This material may be a sintering material. To design predetermined breaking point 7 to be mechanically less resilient, the latter may have a lower density in the case of a sintering material than the rest of main core 2.

Penetrator 10 is preferably an inert penetrator 10.

Predetermined breaking point 7 is formed by a thermal heat treatment of main core 2.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a penetrator 10. The example according to FIG. 2 is based on the example according to FIG. 1 , only the differences with respect to FIG. 1 being explained below.

Main core 2 of penetrator 10 according to FIG. 2 is provided with a two-piece design.

Front part 21 of main core 2 and rear part 22 of main core 2 each have a thread, and front part 21 and rear part 22 of main core 2 are connected by a mechanically less resilient connecting element 25 to form predetermined breaking point 7.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A penetrator comprising: a tail unit; a main core having at least one front part and at least one rear part, the tail unit being arranged on the rear part of the main core; and at least one predetermined breaking point being formed between the front part and the rear part of the main core, the at least one predetermined breaking point being designed such that it is mechanically less resilient than the at least one front part and the at least one rear part of the main core, wherein the main core is provided with a one-piece design, wherein the penetrator is manufactured from a tungsten heavy metal material, and wherein the predetermined breaking point has a lower density than the front part and the rear part of the main core.
 2. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is configured to allow the rear part of the main core, together with the tail unit, to break off from the at least one front part of the main core upon striking a target, in particular a pre-target.
 3. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein a length of the front part of the main core is at least 50%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the length of the main core.
 4. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is manufactured by primary forming and/or forming manufacturing methods.
 5. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is an integral connection, which is formed from a mechanically less resilient material than main core.
 6. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the penetrator is sintered from a tungsten heavy metal material.
 7. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the main penetrator is inert.
 8. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the main core is provided with a solid design.
 9. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is formed by a thermal heat treatment of the main core.
 10. A projectile comprising a penetrator according to claim 1 and a sabot.
 11. A cartridge munition comprising a projectile according to claim 10 and a cartridge casing.
 12. The cartridge munition according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined breaking point is arranged inside of the casing.
 13. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the penetrator is adapted for engaging an armored target having a reactive armoring or a tank having a reactive armoring. 